by Richard van Pelt, WWI Correspondent

Army of 100,00 Is Destroyed – 25,000 Killed or Wounded

The United Press reported that “With a fourth of their total number killed or wounded the Germans before Liege asked the Belgians today for a 24 hours armistice” which the German army desired in order to bury their dead and gather up their wounded, “who lay in thousands between the Liege fortifications and the kaiser’s lines.”

European War And Its Effects this Side of the Pond

“Preparations strictly to enforce American neutrality in accordance with President Wilson’s proclamation occupied the attention of government officials here today. Warships and revenue cutters, it was said, would patrol and inspect the entire American coast line to see that the proclamation is carried out to the letter.”

French Troops Go To Aid Belgians War Only Begun

Lorraine, Once a French Province, Now German, Is Invaded

Women of France To Harvest Crops

The paper reported that “The gory fight at Liege, in which it is declared officially that the German loss exceeded 25,000 in killed and wounded during less than three days of fighting, probably will go down in history as one of the world’s bloodiest battles.”

This number would be dwarfed into insignificance by the 483,000 casualties suffered by both sides in the first battle of Marne less than one month later.

In London, 15,000 Americans were expected to sail from English ports for home within the next ten days. Seven thousand five hundred were reported to be in the care of the American relief committee in London.

In New York, the mayor issued instructions forbidding the flying of flags of any belligerent nation, fearing they would provoke outbreaks. Parades in support of German, French, and Austrian reservists were also banned.

The editorial page reported the death of President Wilson’s wife:

DEATH VISITS THE WHITE HOUSE.

“MRS. WILSON died today at five o’clock.” This was the brief message that flashed over the wires yesterday afternoon, and told an anxious nation that but a few hours before had first learned of her sickness, that the end had come. The dispatches of the day before, announcing that the president’s wife was dangerously ill, came like a lightning flash from a cloudless sky, and the news of her death following so closely, scarce gave the people time to realize the terrible blow that had fallen so heavily upon their chosen leader.

WAR SITUATION AS ENGLAND SEES IT

London, Aug. 7. The banks here reopened today after a five days suspension.

There was not a run but there was a decided rush for withdrawals, not the result of panic but due to the fact that. funds, after being so long tied up, were urgently needed.

Very little gold, to which the British public is accustomed, was paid out, however, its place being taken by the new notes representing the English equivalent of about $7.20. Great Britain’s smallest notes hitherto have been for approximately $24.

In response to the war office’s appeal for volunteers recruits were already enlisting in large numbers. The call was for 100,000 more men, through War Minister Lord Kitchener was authorized to bring the number up to 500,000. It was believed it would yet be necessary to ask the full quota.

Recruits must be between 19 and 30 and the term of enlistment is for three years or during the war.

The admiralty was authorized to add 67,000 officers and men to the naval establishment, bringing the total up to 218,000.

There was not a dissenting voice Thursday night when the house of commons passed a war budget of $500,000,000.